Air-conditioning apparatus in vehicle

ABSTRACT

An apparatus wherein an automobile air conditioner is provided with air recirculating means, air cooling means, and an air filter of a texture capable of removing smoke from the air, and with means operated for effectively inserting the air filter in, and removing it from, the path of air circulating through the cooling means depending on whether the air in the passenger compartment is or is not so smoke laden as to require smoke removal therefrom.

United States Patent Nakao et al. a

[54] AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS IN VEHICLE [72] Inventors: Minoru Nakao;Syozo Yamamoto, both of Osaka, Japan Shlkishima Spinning Co. Ltd.,Osaka-shi, Japan [22] Filed: June30, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 837,430

[73] Assignee:

[52] US. Cl ..62/239, 55/314, 55/467,

1 55/500, 98/2.11, 98/317 [51] Int. Cl ..B60h 3/04 [58] Field of Search..55/267, 268-269,

[451 Mar. 28, 1972 3,288,048 11/1966 Laing ..98/2 2,036,485 4/1936Lintern et a1. ..98/2 2,074,152 3/1937 Mueller ..55/268 2,316,309 4/1943Blair ..49/340 2,573,419 10/1951 Emery ..98/2 2,901,226 8/1959Modine.... ..55/267 3,229,609 l/l966 Larson et al. ..55/D1G. 293,301,167 1/1967 Howard et al.. '....55/D1G. 29

3,356,006 12/1967 Scott ..55/470 3,411,272 11/1968 Carmon ..55/328Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-Bernard NozickAttorney-Hall 81. Houghton [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus wherein anautomobile air conditioner is provided with air recirculating means, aircooling means, and an air filter of a texture capable of removing smokefrom the air, and with means operated for effectively inserting the airfilter in, and removing it from, the path of air circulating through thecooling means depending on whether the air in the passenger compartmentis or is not so smoke laden as to require smoke removal therefrom.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMR 28 1972 SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTORSMu/ak u AMA A0 Jvozo Yam H1070 BY 7M M ATTORNEY AIR-CONDITIONINGAPPARATUS IN VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to an apparatus for filteringthe smoking-contaminated atmosphere in a vehicle, typically in anautomobile, to provide clean air.

2. Description of the Prior Art Smoking in a car with all windows closedresults in-volumes of smoke and hence in air contamination, as there isno outlet for the smoke. Particularly in summer when a car cooler isused, the car is kept closed so that the inside air circulates throughthe cooler without being allowed to escape. As a result, the degree ofair contamination increases in proportion to the amount of smoking, thusproducing a serious adverse effect on the nervous system of the humanbody. Such smoke sometimes attacks the eyes and causes nervousness, thusinterfering with safe driving and leading to traffic accidents. A knowncar cooler has a filter cloth attached to the suction port thereof, butsuch filter cloth is intended to prevent the entry of dust into thecooler and has no ability to filter off superfine particles such assmoke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvedapparatus for air conditioning the passenger space in a motor vehiclefor cooling the same and/orremoving tobacco smoke therefrom; theapparatus comprising: (a) an air recirculating channel leading from andreturning to said passenger space, (b) fan means in said airrecirculating channel operable for circulating air from and to said airpassenger space therethrough, (c) heat exchange means in said airrecirculating channel operable for cooling the air circulatedtherethrough, (d) an air filter in said air recirculating channelcapable of filtering smoke particles from the air circulatedtherethrough, and (e) control means operable for causing the socirculated air to pass through or bypass said filter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustratepreferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the rear half of an automobile equippedwith an apparatus according to the invention, the principal portionbeing shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view ofa cooler suction port and an air purifier;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a modification of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

F IG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a filter material;and

FIG. 6 shows more completely the arrangement of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2illustrating an embodiment ofa car atmosphere purifying apparatus of theinvention, the novel apparatus is shown mounted on the suction port of acooler 4 installed under a shelf plate 3 at the rear seat 2 of anautomobile 1. Thus, a box body 5 is placed on the suction port 6 openedinto the shelf plate 3. The box body 5 is opened at the top and bottomand at one lateral wall, as indicated at 8, 9, and 10. A filter frame 11is inserted into the box body 5 through the opening 10 and has one endthereof pivotally connected to the box body by means of a shaft 12. Thecentral region of the front end of the filter frame 11 projectsoutwardly to form a projecting plate 13, into which a threaded rod 14 isscrewed. The threaded rod is erected outside the box body 5 androtatably supported. It is driven by a small motor 15 disposed outsidethe box body through gear wheels l6, l7, l8,

and 19. The projecting plate 13 is adapted to be rotated relative to thefilter frame 11 and slightly expand and contract lengthwise. Therefore,the rotation of the small motor 15 in either a forward or a reversedirection will rotate the threaded rod 14 to cause the filter frameengaged with the threaded rod to be moved upwardly or downwardly aroundthe axis of the shaft 12. Snap switches (not shown) are placed in thecircuit of the small motor 15 for reversibly rotating the small motor,it being preferable that said snap switches be disposed at the driversseat so that the driver may remotely control either of the switches torotate the small motor 15 in either a forward or a reverse direction,the so provided arrangement constituting a control means operable forcausing the circulated air to pass through or bypass the filter.

The structure of the filter frame 1 l disposed in the box body 5 is asfollows.

A number of corrugated transverse rails 23 are fixed side by side to aframe body 22 which is larger than the opening 8 in the box body 5 andthe suction port 6 of the shelf plate 3 and which is narrower than theopening 10. Stretched through spaces between adjacent rails in a zigzagfashion is a textile net 25 having attached thereto a special filtermaterial of sufficiently fine structure to filter off super fineparticles such as smoke. Thus, the entire opening in the frame body 22is covered with the textile net 25. The textile net 25 may, for example,be made in such a way that short fibers produced by extruding through anozzle a spinnable melt or solution of polystyrene in xylol are blownuniformly against the entire surface of sheeting such as victoria lawnand allowed to settle thereon in a web form or, alternatively, two suchstructures overlapped together with the individual sheeting disposedfacing outward may be used.

The condition shown in FIG. 2 is one in which the filter material a isdisposed in an air circulating channel associated with the cooler. Thatis, the filter frame I] shuts up the suction port of the cooler 4.Therefore, the car atmosphere is drawn into the cooler through thefilter material a The operation of the control means by closing of thesnap switch for rotating the small motor in a forward direction willrotate the small motor 15 to turn the threaded rod 14 so that theprojecting plate 13 in threaded engagement with the threaded rod will bemoved upwardly. Therefore, the filter frame 11 will swing upwardlyaround the axis of the shaft 12, as shown in chain lines in FIG. 2.Therefore, the car atmosphere will be drawn into the cooler through theopening 10 in the lateral wall of the box body 5 as it passes under thefilter frame 11 thus bypassing the filter. That is, the filter framewill be excluded from the air circulating channel. Reversely, in orderto place the filter frame 11 in the air circulating channel, the otherswitch of the control means may be operated. In addition, when thefilter frame is brought into its closing or opening position, an upperor a lower limit switch is actuated so that the small motor will beautomatically stopped.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a modification of the atmosphere purifying apparatusaccording to the invention, wherein a box body 28 is interposed betweena shelf plate 26 and a cooler 27 and a filter frame 29 is obliquelydisposed in the rear half of the box body 28 to form a filter section30. The front half of the box body is formed as a non-filter section 31,above which a movable lid 32 is provided. The movable lid 32 is adaptedto be moved horizontally back and forth within the box body 28. Thus,the right and left sides of the movable lid are supported on rails 33,33 on both sides of the box body. The central region of the front edgeof the movable lid is provided with an upright edge plate 34, into whicha threaded rod 35 is screwed. Therefore, the rotation of a small motor36 disposed outside the box body will turn the threaded rod 35 to movethe movable lid in threaded engagement with said threaded rod. The lowersurface of the movable lid is in contact with the upper inclined edge ofthe inclined filter frame. The numerals 37 and 38 denote limit switchesfor limiting the movement of the movable lid; 39, a suction portprovided in the shelf plate 26; 40, the suction port of the cooler; and41, a discharge port provided in the shelf plate.

The condition shown in solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4 is one in which afilter material a is disposed in an air circulating channel associatedwith the cooler, the car atmosphere being drawn into the suction port 40of the cooler via the suction port 39 and the filter frame 29. Theoperation of the control means by closing of the snap switch placed inthe circuit of the small motor 36 will turn the threaded rod 35 to movethe movable lid 32 to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 until it assumes aposition shown in chain lines. Thus, the non-filter region 31 is broughtinto communication with the car room, so that the air in the room isdrawn into the cooler through the non-filter region thus bypassing thefilter. In short, the filter plate 29 is excluded from the aircirculating channel. In order to put the filter plate 29 in the aircirculating channel, the other snap switch of the control means may beclosed.

The description given so far refers to cases where the filter plate isinstalled on the suction port of a cooler, but it may be installed onthe discharge port of a cooler or in any other place of an aircirculating channel.

It is seen from the above that according to the invention, a filterframe having attached thereto a special filter material capable offiltering off superfine particles such as smoke is installed in anexisting car room air circulating channel, said filter frame beingadapted to be movable by operation of the control means so that whenfiltering is not required the filter frame is moved away from the aircirculating channel whereas when filtering is required the filter frameis interposed in the air circulating channel. Therefore, with anexisting fan utilized without any alteration, the present invention maybe used for purifying a car atmosphere, particularly one contaminatedwith smoking. Since the filter frame may be put in the air circulatingchannel temporarily for a short time only when the car atmosphere iscontaminated with smoking, the object of air purification is achievedwithout causing any substantial decrease in the efficiency of thecooler.

If such a filter frame is constantly placed in an air circulatingchannel, the cooling efficiency of the car cooler will be decreased. Inorder to prevent this, the volume of air has to be increased and hencethe air pressure has to be increased. If a larger fan is used toincrease the air pressure, this is accompanied by a high noise level andmoreover a larger space for installation is required. Noise is to thegreatest disadvantage of a car, while an increase in installation spaceis another undesirable factor to a car, which is limited in room space.The turbo-fan is known as a small fan with high air pressure, but it hasdisadvantages in that the power consumption is high and the noise levelis high. Further, a propeller fan may be used to provide a largerquantity of air, but it has a disadvantage in that the air pressure islow. Thus, this fan is not fit for automobiles, either. Under thesecircumstances, at present the Silocco fan, which is relatively low innoise level and in power consumption and which provides a large quantityof air and high air pressure, is considered to be the best fan forautomobiles.

FIG. 6 shows more completely the arrangement of FIG. 3; indicates theair circulating channel which leads from the motor vehicle passengerspace 2 via passage 39, smoke-filter 29 or bypass 32, and passage 40into the chamber 27 housing the fan means and the cooling means, andthence, via the return duct and outlet 41, to the motor vehiclepassenger space 2 again. The reversible motor 36, as above described, inthe position shown has been operated by the remote control switch meansat the drivers seat to drive shaft 35 in a forward direction of rotationto move the filter bypass valve means 32 forward to its closed positionwhere it has actuated the limit switch 37 to stop the motor. When theoperator of the vehicle actuates the operator controlled switch means atthe drivers seat to which the motor leads connect, to energize the motor36 for reverse driving, the motor 36 drives the shaft 35 in the reversedirection until stopped by actuation of limit switch 38,

thus moving the valve means 32 to open the filter bypass.

Further, car coolers are required to have a very high cooling capacityfor their room size because of high cooling load resulting from directsunlight exposure of automobiles in the hot season or quick rise in carroom temperature during stoppage time or other special conditionsinherent in automobiles. In order to compensate for a decrease in thecooling ca acity it is also the best measure to provide an insertabletype fi ter so that it may be inserted only when it is desired to removesmoke.

In short, with these considerations in mind, the present invention is soarranged that the filter section is not constantly placed in the aircirculating channel of a cooler but is readily inserted therein onlywhen the car atmosphere is contaminated by smoking. Thus the inventionis of highly practical use for vehicles having a cooler, preventing theefficiency of such cooler from lowering when air filtration is not goingon.

While there have been described herein what are at present consideredpreferred embodiments of the several features of the invention, it willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the essence of the invention. It istherefore to be understood that the exemplary embodiments thereof areillustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which isdefined in the appended claims and that all modifications that comewithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intendedto be included therein.

We claim:

1. Air-conditioning apparatus for conditioning the air in the passengercompartment of a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a. an air recirculating channel leading from and returning to saidpassenger compartment,

b. fan means in said air recirculating channel for circulating air fromand to said passenger compartment therethrough,

c. cooling means in said air recirculating channel operable for coolingthe air so circulated therethrough,

d. a filter means interposed in and positioned across said airrecirculating channel and capable of filtering out smoke particles fromthe air recirculated therethrough,

. and flow control means in said air recirculating channel for providinga bypass means for said filter means, comprising adjustable meansoperable between first and second positions of adjustment for causingthe air recirculated therein to pass through said filter means orthrough said bypass means, respectively, said flow control meanscomprising driving motor means connected to said adjustable means forselectively moving said adjustable means to said first and secondpositions of adjustment, respectively, and control means connected tosaid driving motor means for actuating the same, said control meansbeing operable from the drivers seat of the vehicle.

2. Air conditioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flowcontrol means (e) comprises movable means for supporting said filtermeans, ((1), and movable to said first and second positions ofadjustment, in the first of which it positions the filter means (d)across said air recirculation channel, and in the second of which itdisplaces the filter means (d) to provide the bypass means in said airrecirculating channel.

3. Air conditioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bypassmeans comprises a passage in said air recirculating channel forbypassing said filter means, and valve means movable to either open orclose said passage, and wherein said motor means is connected to andoperates said valve means.

1. Air-conditioning apparatus for conditioning the air in the passengercompartment of a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a. an airrecirculating channel leading from and returning to said passengercompartment, b. fan means in said air recirculating channel forcirculating air from and to said passenger compartment therethrough, c.cooling means in said air recirculating channel operable for cooling theair so circulated therethrough, d. a filter means interposed in andpositioned across said air recirculating channel and capable offiltering out smoke particles from the air recirculated therethrough, e.and flow control means in said air recirculating channel for providing abypass means for said filter means, comprising adjustable means operablebetween first and second positions of adjustment for causing the airrecirculated therein to pass through said filter means or through saidbypass means, respectively, said flow control means comprising drivingmotor means connected to said adjustable means for selectively movingsaid adjustable means to said first and second positions of adjustment,respectively, and control means connected to said driving motor meansfor actuating the same, said control means being operable from thedriver''s seat of the vehicle.
 2. Air conditioning apparatus as claimedin claim 1, wherein said flow control means (e) comprises movable meansfor supporting said filter means, (d), and movable to said first andsecond positions of adjustment, in the first of which it positions thefilter means (d) across said air recirculation channel, and in thesecond of which it displaces the filter means (d) to provide the bypassmeans in said air recirculating channel.
 3. Air conditioning apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein said bypass means comprises a passage insaid air recirculating channel for bypassing said filter means, andvalve means movable to either open or close said passage, and whereinsaid motor means is connected to and operates said valve means.